The Latest: Jailed Utah man not among inmates transferred

People take their boxes of food staples, such as beans, rice, tuna and powdered milk, provided by the government program "CLAP," which stands for Local Committees of Supply and Production, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Years of mismanagement have steadily eroded the once-robust oil industry, Venezuela's chief source of income, and the squeeze of financial sanctions by the Trump administration is choking the cash-starved government as it struggles to feed its people.Ariana Cubillos / AP

CARACAS, Venezuela — The latest on Venezuela’s presidential election amid an economic and political crisis (all times local):

7:55 p.m.

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab says that jailed Utah man Joshua Holt is not among the 72 inmates authorities are transferring to other facilities a day after several detainees sent urgent messages begging for outside help.

Saab announced on Twitter Thursday the inmates would first get medical check-ups before being been taken to other detention centres. Later, he told a local television station that Holt was not among the inmates to be transferred.

A day earlier, inmates protested poor conditions and posted on social media that their lives were in danger. Officials haven’t said which inmates they’re moving.

An estimated 340 inmates are held in the Helicoide, a building run by Venezuela’s political police. Among them is Holt, who has been detained for two years on what U.S. officials call trumped up weapons charges.

The unrest flared up days before Sunday’s election when President Nicolas Maduro seeks a second term.

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7:30 p.m.

Venezuelan officials say they’re transferring 72 inmates from a jail a day after several detainees sent urgent messages begging for outside help.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced on Twitter Thursday the inmates would first get medical check-ups before being been taken to other detention centres.

A day earlier, inmates protested poor conditions and posted on social media that their lives were in danger. Officials haven’t said which inmates they’re moving.

An estimated 340 inmates are held in the Helicoide, a building run by Venezuela’s political police.

One of the inmates is jailed Utah man Joshua Holt, detained for two years on what U.S. officials call trumped up weapons charges.

The unrest flared up days before Sunday’s election when President Nicolas Maduro seeks a second term.

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7:10 p.m.

Authorities in Colombia say they have confiscated over 25,000 boxes of food infested with bugs that were destined for low-income Venezuelans.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday that the boxes were part of a Venezuelan food program that critics accuse Venezuela’s socialist government of using to sway votes.

Authorities say they have identified more than 23 companies involved in the food distribution that have ties to corruption and money laundering.

Santos also says that “trusted intelligence sources” have uncovered a plan by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government to transport Colombians to vote for the embattled socialist leader in Sunday’s presidential election. He did not provide any evidence.